Head of Special Cargo

dfdscontinent; Vlaardingen; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

8.33% holiday allowance

Pension scheme through ASR

Bonus scheme

International working environment

DFDS network exposure

Job summary

DFDS in the Netherlands seeks a Head of Special Cargo to lead the performance of the Special Cargo business in the region. You will guide managers across departments, drive commercial, operational, and financial results, and collaborate with international teams to deliver value for customers and the business.

You will foster a performance-driven culture, monitor KPIs, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction while building strong cross-border cooperation within

Qualifications

• Bachelor (HBO) working and thinking level.
• Several years of leadership experience in logistics, freight forwarding, project logistics, preferably with experience in Special Cargo.
• Experience leading managers and working with multiple stakeholders.
• Commercially minded with experience in driving business performance.
• Solid financial understanding and experience working with budgets and KPIs.
• Experience operating in an international and complex stakeholder environment.
• Fluent in English; Dutch is an advantage.
• A collaborative and approachable leader who knows how to motivate teams and create results.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support managers across different departments in achieving their goals.
• Take ownership of the commercial, operational, and financial performance of the Special Cargo business.
• Drive a strong customer and performance-focused culture.
• Monitor key business KPIs and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Work closely with international colleagues and stakeholders to strengthen cooperation across countries and business units.
• Encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration across the DFDS network.
• Continuously look for ways to improve efficiency, customer satisfaction, and business results.

Skills

Leadership experience

Logistics/Freight forwarding

Budgeting & KPIs

Stakeholder management

English proficiency

Dutch language advantage

Education

Bachelor (HBO) level

Job description

As Head of Special Cargo, you are responsible for the overall performance of our Special Cargo business in the Netherlands. You lead managers across different departments and work closely with teams throughout the DFDS network to achieve commercial, operational, and financial objectives. In this international role, you bring people together, create focus, and ensure collaboration across countries to deliver the best possible results for our customers and the business.

What will you do?

• Lead and support managers across different departments in achieving their goals.

• Take ownership of the commercial, operational, and financial performance of the Special Cargo business.

• Drive a strong customer and performance-focused culture.

• Monitor key business KPIs and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Work closely with international colleagues and stakeholders to strengthen cooperation across countries and business units.

• Encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration across the DFDS network.

• Continuously look for ways to improve efficiency, customer satisfaction, and business results.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor (HBO) working and thinking level.

• Several years of leadership experience in logistics, freight forwarding, project logistics, preferably with experience in Special Cargo.

• Experience leading managers and working with multiple stakeholders.

• Commercially minded with experience in driving business performance.

• Solid financial understanding and experience working with budgets and KPIs.

• Experience operating in an international and complex stakeholder environment.

• Fluent in English; Dutch is an advantage.

• A collaborative and approachable leader who knows how to motivate teams and create results.

What do we offer?

• A challenging leadership role within an international and growing organization.

• The opportunity to make a direct impact on the performance and development of our Special Cargo business.

• A competitive salary that reflects the scope and responsibility of the position.

• A performance-based bonus scheme.

• Company car.

• 8.33% holiday allowance.

• Pension scheme through ASR.

• A collaborative and international working environment where cross-border cooperation is part of everyday business.

• Plenty of opportunities to work with colleagues and customers across the wider DFDS network.

Ready for the next step?

At DFDS, we believe success is built on collaboration, customer focus, and a willingness to continuously improve. As Head of Special Cargo, you will play a key role in bringing teams together, driving business performance, and strengthening our position in the market.

If you are an experienced leader with a commercial mindset, enjoy working in an international environment, and are looking for your next challenge, we would love to hear from you.